Psalm 125 - A Psalm of Trust (Reorientation)

by Pastor Paul Dugan

Try entering into prayer with this three-part rhythm:

Part 1

Become present to the presence of God:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2 ESV).

Pause in silence before God. Practice breathing slowly and deeply. As you inhale, invite the Holy Spirit to fill every part of your being- your body, mind, imagination, affections and emotions. As you exhale, release any burdens you are carrying into this time of prayer. Repeat this breathing prayer until you have brought your whole self -‘as is’ -before the presence of God.

Reflect on the joys and challenges of the day. What are you thankful for? Where did you see God at work? What do you lament? What do you need to confess?

Part 2

Slowly read from Psalm 125 (NLT) out loud: (for an audio version click here)

1  Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
2 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
3 The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
    for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
4 O Lord, do good to those who are good,
    whose hearts are in tune with you.
5 But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
    Take them away with those who do evil.

May Israel have peace!

Part 3

Use your own words to pray Psalm 125 back to God:

Begin by personalizing the pronouns in the psalm, turning the words about God into a prayer directly to God. For example, v. 1 (‘Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion’) becomes ‘Those who trust in YOU, Lord, are as secure as Mount Zion.’ Pray your way through the psalm in this way.

Then gather these thoughts into your own psalm of trust:

  • “Lord, you are my…

  • “I depend on you to…

  • “Without you, I am…

  • “Even when…, I trust you.

  • “I am confident that you will… 

The psalms were originally written as lyrics, as prayers set to music. Throughout the history of Israel and the church, the people of God have sung the psalms. Song invites us to internalize the Word of God with the whole self- body, mind, imagination, emotions and affections. Take time to listen to a version of Psalm 125 set to music. Try taking the psalm song with you into your day.

from the album ‘Rose of the Winds’ (2022) by Yamma Ensemble. yammaensemble.com